Control for motor vehicle transmissions



Dec. 5, 1950 M. c. ROBINSON CONTROL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS 4 sheets-,sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2l, 1946 RE' VERSE SECO/VD FU TON/7 776' NL'U WIL ELL- HTTOFNEKS.

Dec. 5, 1950 M.- c. ROBINSON 2,532,945

CONTROL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS Filed Sept. 2l, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /Vvrzce C 73052523072.

SAQ/.Mu m m Dec. 5, 1950 M. c. RoBlNsoN CONTROL ROR MOTOR VEHICLE TRANsMIssIoNs Filed sept'. 21, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR. wiz/,nce Rolzzon Dec. 5, 1950 M. c. ROBINSON CONTROL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOI'Q. Mal/7163 znsn HTToR/VE YS.

Filed Sept. 21, 1946 Patented Dec. 5, 1,950

UNITED STATES PATENT o'FFicE CONTROL FOR MOTOR VEHICLE 'TRANSMISSIONS Maurice C. Robinson, Royal Oak, Mich.,y assignol to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 21, 1946, Serial No. 698,504

3` Claims. .l

This invention relates to automotive vehicle transmission controls and more particularly to the combination of automatic means for changing the speed ratio drive of the transmission with manual means forl changing the speed ratio drive and means to select between the automatic means and the manual means.

Apparatuses for automatically controlling the speed ratio drives in motor vehicle transmissions have been developed. These apparatuses usually initiate a cycle including a clutch disengage ment, a change in transmission speed' ratio drive and a "clutch reengagement. In many casesz it is desirable to retain the conventional `manual shift control lever and rod and means are provided herein to give the driver a selection as to whether the automatic control or theA manual control will be operative.l

The selecting means to be described herein isy associated with the manual yshift control `rod and perm-its the driver to operatively' disconnect the shift control rod from the linkage to be ac tuated by the automatic control ysystem and takes advantage Vof the 'fact that 'the automatic control system is dependent upon electrical cur.- rent to provide the driver with means to interrupt the electrical circuit.

My invention provides means bywhich a transmission and control lever employing the conventional H pattern for manual shifting vare adapted to utilize an auxiliary movement of the shift lever to actuate an automatic Acontrol system.

It is an object of this invention to selectively move a `single transmission control element either by automatic means or by manual means. The invention will be described herein in conjunction with a suggested transmission and clutch control apparatus as ya typical application thereof although it is not intended that the invention be limited to the associated apparatusl lig1 7 is a view taken on the line l--l of Fig. v46'; l

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6i- Fig. 9- is a view taken .on the line 9-9 of Fig. '6:1

Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic view of a transmission and clutch control apparatus of which my invention forms a. component part; and

Fig, 'll is a diagrammatic sketch of the shiit.

pattern associated with the system,

In a motor vehicle, the usual internal' combos which the drive passes from the output shaft 25 to the vehicle .rear wheels in the usual manner.

The engine crankshaft 2Q carries the Varied fluid coupling impell'er 2B which in the well known manner drives. the vaned runner .21 whence thev drive passes through hub -28 to clutch driving member 29. This member then transmits the.- drive when clutch 22 is engaged as in Fig.. 1,; through driven member 30 to the transmissiondriving rshaft 23 carrying the main drive pinion A clutch pedal 33 controls clutch 22 suchthat when the driver depresses this pedal yoke i 34 and collar Ii5 are thrust forward to cause` levers 3B to release the clutch driving pressure plate v3l against springs "38 thereby releasing the drive between runner 21- and shaft 23. The pri-'- mary function of the main clutch 22 is to enable;

shifts to be made manually or automatically-in transmission 24. `The reasons 'for the use of a duid coupling are explained in application, Serial- No. 661,298 by Carl A Neracher and 'Maurice C! Robinson.

Referring to the transmission in Fig. 2A fthe main drive pinion 32 is in -constant mesh with the gear 411 of the countershaft gear cluster mounted for rotation on the coun-tershal-t ill-.il This gear cluster according to well known prac-A tice, comprises a low speed gear 42, a second gear d3,v and a reverse gear '44 which is in constantV mesh with th-e reverse idler gear 45. The transfmission output shaft 25 extends rearwardly to drive the ground wheels of the vehicle;

The driven shaft 25 has mounted thereon thelow speed and reverse gear 41 spl'ined' to they driven shaft for selective meshing with they countershaft low speed gear 42 or the reverseY idler `gear 45 for respectively transmitting low speed drive to the driven shaft 25 or the drive thereto yin a reverse direction. Freely rotatable transmitting ya second speed lratio drive.V

3 tially spaced external clutch teeth 49. In a similar manner the gear 48 drivingly carries a set of clutch teeth 50.

Splined on the shaft 25 adjacent the forward extremity thereof, is an axially shiftable collar or sleeve 5|. Blocker teeth rings 52 and 53 are carried by sleeve 5| and are provided with friction means (not shown) adapted to selectively cooperate with friction means provided with teeth 49 and 59. The blocker teeth rings 52 and 53 are adapted for slight rotation relative to sleeve 5| to facilitate synchronizing of gear speeds prior to clutching of shaft 25 through collar 5| with either gears 32 or 48 in a manner well known in the art.

The transmission is illustrated in its neutral position. To establish the direct or high speed driving connection between shafts 23 and 25, the collar 5| may be shifted axially to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 by the control means hereinafter described to engage the teeth 49 drivingly connected to the gear 32 carried by the driving shaft 23. The collar is drivingly carried by the shaft 25. The second speed driving connection is established by similarly moving the collar 5| to the right as viewed in Fig 2 t0 engage teeth 50 carried by gear 48. The rst or low speed is obtained by moving gear 41 which is splined to driven shaft 25 forwardly in Fig. 2 into engagement with the countershaft low speed gear 42.

The drive then occurs from shaft 23 through main drive pinion 32, countershaft gear 40, countershaft low speed gear 42, gear 41, and driven shaft 25. Reverse drive is obtained by engaging gear 41 with reverse idler gear 45. The transmission mechanism thus described is an embodiment conventionally employed in motor vehicles.

Transmission 24 is provided with control means comprising selector cam 55 keyed to shaft 5S which is keyed to selector lever 51. Rotation of selector lever 51 rotates cam 55, the outward end of cam 55 is lifted by this movement (see Figs. 3 and 5). Control shaft 53 (Fig. 3) is rotatably mounted in the transmission housing. Cylindrical lever 59 surrounds shaft 58 and pin 60 mounted normally to the axis of the shaft fastens the lever to the shaft. Y Relative axial rotation is pre- Ventedby pin 6D but slight rotation of lever 59 on pin' 6D is possible. Cylindrical lever 59 is provided with nger 6| adapted to penetrate the openings provided in forks 52 and G3 on shift rails B4 and 65, Spring 66 urges finger 5| to its downward position. Fork 52 engagescollar 61 on low speed and reverse gear 41. Fork 63 engages collar 5| for selecting second or direct transmission drive. Gear shift fork guide rail 68 supports the weight of forks 62 and 53. As illustrated in Fig. 3, nger 6| is normally in engagement with the fork 63 on the second speed and direct drive shift rail.

In operation, linger 5| is lifted or lowered to select the fork 62 or E3 which linger 6| is to move. Rotation of shaft 58, cylindrical lever 59, and finger 6| moves the selected shift rail, fork, and collar to the left or right in Fig. 2 depending upon the direction of rotation of shaft 58. Lever 69 is provided and keyed to shaft 58 to rotate the latter.

Manual means are provided in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. for the operation of the clutch and control of the transmission speed ratio drive. The clutch pedal 33 is rotatably mounted at 10 on a shaft, not shown. An extension 33 of clutch pedal 33 depends below rotatable mounting Wand has fixed theretoa pin 1|. A torque-v shaft 12 has one end thereof rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame, not shown, and the other end rotatably mounted adjacent the engine block, not shown, in a manner well known in the art. A collar 11 keyed to shaft 12 is provided with depending arm 15. A rod 'i9 operatively connects arm 18 with pin 1i. A slot 89 provided in rod 19 permits relative movement in one direction between rcd 19 and pin 1|. A collar 13 is keyed to torque shaft 12. Collar 13 is provided with a depending arm 14. A rod 15 connects arm 161 with clutch throwout fork 15 which is pivoted at 19. Clutch Ithrowout fork 15 engages collar 34. It will thus be seen that depression of clutch pedal 33 rotates extension 53 about rotatable mounting 15 and through pin 1| retracts rod 19 and rotates arm 18, shaft 12, collar 13, and arm 14 to push a rod 15 and rotate clutch throwout fork 15 about its pivotal mounting 16 thereby moving collar 34 and disengaging the clutch 22.

A manual shift control rod 82 is shown in l0 as supported on the steering column housing 83 by bracket 84. The manual shift control rod 82 is slidably mounted in the bracket 84 and adapted for both axial and rotary movement. As is usual in the art, the axial movement is adapted to select the transmission shift rail 64 or 55 which is to be moved by finger 6| (Fig- 4), and rotation of the shift control rod 82 slides the shift rail in one of two directions (depending upon the direction of rod rotation) through the rotation of shaft 58 (Fig. 3) as described above. This effects the desired transmission speed ratio drive connection. A pair of spaced circumferential collars 35 and 85 located adjacent the base of rod 82 and operatively connected thereto receive therebetween the end of a lever 81 which is rotatably mounted at 3| adjacent its mid portion to the bracket 84. A rod 88 connects lever 81 with transmission selector lever 51. Axial movement of rod 82 is transmitted through this linkage to the selector lever 51.

An arm 89 is operatively connected to rod 82. A depending rod 92 connects arm 89 with a rotatable lever S3 mounted on shaft 94. An arm 95 of lever 93 is connected to transmission shift lever 59 through rod 55. Rotation of rod 82 through the linkage just described rotates shift lever 59 and shaft 58 (Fig. 3) for manual transmission control.

In Fig. 10 automatic means have been superimposed `on the manual controls just described. The automatic means to be described is adapted to actuate both clutch and transmission. Refer'- ring to Fig. l0 an airtight housing |95 containing a cylinder |51 has a tubular connection |95 with the engine intake manifold. A solenoid valve E59 is adapted to selectively open and close this connection and vent cylinder |51. A vpiston is slidably mounted in cylinder |51 and a spring l l acting on piston i5 and reacting on housing |65 urges piston |10 to one end of cylinder |51. Manifold low pressure or vacuum as it is commonly referred to,A overcomes spring when valve |59 isopen. Piston rod ||2 connects the piston i3 with an arm 3 carried by a collar it rotatably mounted on torque shaft 12. The cole lar 11 previously referred to is provided with an extension i l5 adapted to be engaged by the arm i i3 vwhen the latter is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. When cylinder |51 is connected with the manifold through valve |59 and tubular passage |58, piston H5 is raised and piston rod |52 rotates arm H3 in a counterclockwise direction.v I3 engages and carries therewith fthe collar.

extension I5 of lcollar 11 thereby rotating the The collar v11 is keyed to the torque shaft 12 and the torque shaft 12 is thus rotated. Ro tation of the shaft 12 rotates the collar 13 keyed thereto and the depending arm 1|| pushes rod rotates clutch throwout fork 16, and disengages the clutch 22. The rotation of the collar 11 and depending arm 18 in this counterclockwise direction does not cause a depression of the clutch pedal 33 because of the cooperation o the vslot 8o in rod 19 and the pin 1|. This pin and slot combination permits movement of rod to the right in Fig. 8 without an accompanying depression of clutch pedal 33. When valve |09 closes cylinder `|51 to the manifold and vents the cylinder, Y

spring returns the parts described to their loriginal position Ipermitting the clutch to reengage.

The movement of piston |||I also effects changes in transmission speed ratio drive by the movement of transmission collar 5| illustrated in Fig.2. The automatic apparatus herein effects changes of speed ratio drive between a relatively slow drive of the driven wheels and a relatively fast drive or between second and direct drive as particularly described in relation to the Fig.

transmission. The torque shaft 12 is provided with a collar IIB which is rotatably mounted thereon. An arm I|1 is carried by collar H5. The arm is designed to actuate a device referred to as an alternator and generally designated by the numeral ||8. Alternator H8 is adapted to translate successive counterclockwise rotations of `arm I I1 to alternate counterclockwise and clockwise rotation of rtransmission Shaft :i:

58 (Fig. 3). Referring tothe alternator in Fig. 10, a support plate I I9 is secured to a stationary obje-ct. VA pin projects from the surface plate IIS. A pair` of upwardly extending lingers |l2| and |22 are rotatably mounted on a lever |23 on opposite sides of its fulcrum |23. Spring |245 connects fingers |2I Y and |22 and urges them ltoward eachother. The fingers |2| and l|22. each havea recessed portion with a shoulder |25 adjacent the upper end thereof. v|26 is rotatably connected to arm and has a pin |21 protruding from each fork thereof. pins |21 are adapted to selectively engage the shoulders IE5-'of fingers 2| and |22. A pair oi pins |28 and |29 guide the fingers and cooperate with the arcuate paths of the connections of the fingers with lever |23 to rdirect the shoulder |25 portion of the fingers toward the pin |20 when Athe finger occupies its highest position in Fig. lt'. `A vlink |30 and bellorank |3| transmit motion of lever |23 to a rod |32. In the alternator with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 10, downm ward Vmotion of arm I1 will pull lever |26 down 'wardly kand `one pin |21 will push finger |2| *downwardly thereby rotating lever |23 in a counterclockwise direction about fulcrum |23', raising link |30, rotating bellcrank |3I, and pulling rod |32 to the left. With lever |23 in this'position finger |22 has been raised and the portion thereof connected to lever |23 has been swung outwardly on an arc about the fulcrum |23 with fthe spring |24 urging the upper portion thereof to the left as far `as pin |29 will permit in Fig. l-O. When arm ||1 is raised the bifurcated lever IZi is centered by the cam action of pin |25 vin th# crotch thereof so that on its next downward move-ment the other pin |21 engages shoulder |25 of nger v|22 to reverse the movement described 4above and to thereby push on rod |32. Y Through this mechanism each successive ydownward motion A bifurcated leverl yof'arxn-IH reverses the movement of rod |32.. The arm |I1 is rotatedin a counterclockwise d1'- rection to initiate the movements described above each time the piston IU is actuated by the connection of cylinder |01 with the manifold vacuum. As the cylinder is raised in Fig. 10 by the manifold vacuumy and the piston rod ||.2 rotates the arm |3 in a counterclockwise direction the collar Ilfl is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The collar ||4 and the collar IIB are each rom `tatably mounted on torque shaft 12 and have arms |33 and |34 extending therefrom. A spring |35 connectsarms `|33 and |34. Therefore, the rotation of the collar ||4 stretches spring |35 which in turn rotates the collar IB and the arm |-|1 1 in order that the alternator ||8 may be actuated as described above.

The rod |332 is alternately pushed and pulled by the alternator |I8 and is vconnected to an eX- tended portion of the rotatable lever 33 so that motion of ir'od |32 through the lever 93 Vactuates the rod 96 previously described as con nected to the transmission shift lever 59. Thus each successive upward movement of piston IIii induces a motion of shift lever 69. These successive motions alternate between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 58. The spring 5S in Fig. 3 urges the finger 6| into engagement with the shift rail 65 at all times when the selector lever 51 is not actuated. During automatic control the selector lever 51 is not actuated. Therefore, the successive. .clockwise and counterclockwise motions of shift lever 59 cause the shift rail 65 to move alternately to the left Iand to the right in Fig. 2 thereby moving the collar 5| to the left and to the right and lcausing alternate drives to occur in second speed or direct drive in the transmission of Fig. 2. The spring I 35 is adapted to store force transmitted thereto by piston HD until the blocker teeth 52 are able to utilize the force to effect a change in transmission speed ratio drive.

Carburetor throttle lever is controlled by accelerator pedal |5| through conventional linkage illustrated in Fig, 10. Rod |52 connected to accelerator pedal |5| has its other end iconnected to lever |53 keyed to rotatably mounted shaft |54. A Vlever i 55 is also keyed to shaft |515 for rotation therewith and rod |56 connects lever |55with throttle lever |58. Thus actuation of accelerator pedal |5| through rod |52,lever |53, rod |54, lever |55, and rod |55 rotates throttle 'lever |50.

Means to control vthe actuation of the piston I I0 is illustrated in Fig. 10. A grounded source |60 of electric energy is connected through ignition switch |5i toa transmission control element in the form of a switch 51 by electrical conductor |52. Switch 91 is adapted to be closed when the shift control rod 82 is placed in a predetermined position to be Ydescribed. herein. Electrical line |53 connects switch 91 witha switch |64 adapted to `be closed whenv the throttle is substantially closed. Line |85 connects switch |64 with a twoway shift rail switch |55 having a finger |61 thereon adapted to be engaged by abutments on an extension |58 of the transmission shift rail 55. A rsit circuit in switch |56 is disconnected and a second circuit is connected when the shift 'rail has completedV its movement. This switch movement lalternates with each transmission speed ratio change on the shift rail 55. A vehicle speed responsive governor |55 one outlet terminal |18 and two inlet terminals |1 I and |12 and is adapted to connect the outlet terminal with one inlet terminal belowva predetermined speed'and with the other inlet terminal above the predetermined speed. Each inlet terminal is connelcted to one of the circuits referred to for switch |66. Line |13 connects governor terminal |10 with solenoid valve |09 in manifold line |08. Line |115 grounds the circuit. Valve IOS is adapted to connect cylinder |01 with the manifold line |08 when energized and to close line |08 and vent cylinder |531 to atmosphere when not energized. lfn the operation o'f the apparatus thus far described when the driver closes switch 91 to select automatic drive and then closes the throttle lever [5I above a predetermined vehicle speed, valve |09 is energized to admit vacuum to cylinder |01. Piston H is raised yand clutch 22 disengaged through the linkage I I2, I I3, I l5, shaft 12, collar 13, rod 15, and clutch throwout fork 16. This motion of the piston also causes a delayed movement of transmission shift lever 69 and shift rail o5 through arm H3, collar H4, arm |33, spring |35, collar H6, arm II1, alternator |I8, rod |32, lever et, and rod 95. rhe change in speed ratio drive caused by moving shift lever S9 moves the shift rail and its extension |03 breaks the circuit at switch |20 thereby deenergizing solenoid valve |00 and permitting spring I |I to move piston H0 to the lower end of the cylinder permitting the clutch to reengage. The switch |60 is now connected with its other cincuit and a complete electrical circuit will be made when the governor |59 connects the outlet terminal |10 with the other inlet terminal below a predetermined vehicle speed and the driver closes the throttle switch |64 by releasing accelerator pedal |55. the solenoid valve |02 is energized and the piston I ill raised to repeat the process. The alternator H0 will this time move the transmission shift lever 62 in the reverse direction from that previously experienced. The shift rail 65 will be moved and the collar 5| moved to cause a second speed drive in the Fig. 2 transmission. A dashpot |80 mounted upon a stationary object and having its piston rod E83 connected to the arm |34 of torque shaft collar H0 may be used to dampen the movements imparted to the transmission collar 5| by the piston H0. When the vacuum cylinder piston rod |I2 rotates arm ||3 and through spring rotates the collar I I6 to actuate the alternator HS and transrm'ssio-n collar 5|, the spring |35 permits variations to o-ccur between the piston movement and alternator or transmission collar movement, The dashpot |80 assures that such variation will occur to the end that the transmission collar 5| is moved at a relatively slow speed while the vacuum cylinder piston is moved relatively rapidly. The dashpot |80 has been so positioned that manual actuation cf the transmission collar 5| through the shift control rod 132 and transmission shift lever 69 are independent of the dashpot. The automatic control means depends for actuation upon the closing of a switch 01 provided adjacent t .e lower portic-n of rod 82 and it als-o depends upon the deactivation of manual control rod 32. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate a mechanism by which this is accomplished. The rod 82 is supported by two collars 23S and 20| formed of friction material to dampen vibration and permit rotary and axial movement of rod 82. Collar 200 is carried by a bracket 202 and collar 20| is carried by a hub portion 203 of arm 89. The hub 203 is urged to the leit in Fig. 6 into engagement with bracket 84 by spring 20d which is concentric with rod 82 and reacts against bracket 202. The hub 203 is rIhe electrical circuit then being complete ward into a groove 2|0 or 2| l.

I referred to as neutral.

supported by collar 205 of bracket 84. t Switch 91 is supported adjacent the base of rod 82 and has a plunger 206 positioned so that it is adapted to be engaged by the end of rod 82 when the latter is moved axially to the left in Fig. 6. Axial movement of plunger 206 to the left in Fig. 6 closes switch 91 in a manner well known in the art. A spring (not shown) urges plunger 205 to the right in Fig. 6 to open the switch 91.

A hub- 201 is concentric with rod 82 and retained thereon by nuts 208. The hub 201 is splined to rod 82 at 209. The hub 201 carries the spaced circumferential collars l85 and 8B previously referred to as actuating the lever 81 and rod 88 by axial movement of rod 82 for manual control of the transmission. The hub 201 is provided with a pair of axially spaced circumferential grooves 2I0 and 2| I in its exterior surface. These grooves are separated by a ridge 2 l2'. The bracket 84 is provided with a pair 'of diametrically opposed radial holes 2 I 3 and 2 I0. Each hole contains a spring 2|5 and a ball detent 2I6. Each spring urges one of the ball detents radially in- The ball detents during manual control of the transmission are positioned in the groove 2|0 and permit a limited unrestricted axial movement of the rod 82 across the neutral range illustrated in the Fig. 11 diagrammatic view of the shift pattern. This axial movement is insufficient to close switch 91.

The hub 201 and hub 203 are provided with cooperating axial teeth 2|1 and slots 2I8 which constitute normally engaged clutch components. During manual operation, rotation of rod 82 rotates hub 201 through splines 209 and this rotation of hub 201 is transmitted to hub 203 and arm through the cooperation of teeth 2|1 and slots 2|8. Thus axial movement of rod 82 is transmitted to lever 81 and rotation oi rod 82 is transmitted to arm 89 to effect manual control of the transmission speed ratio drive.

The shift control rod 82 is mounted for conventional movement in an axial direction between limits in the predetermined path usually At one of these axial limits there is a position from which the rod may be rotated to a station corresponding to the reverse position illustrated in the Fig. 11 shift pattern. The rod 82 may be rotated from the neutral position at the other limit to a station designated by the word second in Fig. 11. When the driver wishes to activate the automatic apparatus described herein this may be accomplished by moving the usual hand lever 220 provided on rod 82 into the second speed position and then forcing rod 62 downward or in an axial direction beyond the axial limit containing the second speed position as illustrated in Fig. 1l. The additional downward or axial motion of rod 82 closes switch 91 and operatively disconnects arm 89 from rod 82 by disengaging clutch components 2I1 and 2|8. The additional downward motion causes the ball detents to ride over the ridge 2|2 and locate in the groove 2| I. Means are provided to assure that the hand lever 220 and rod 02 will be in the second speed position before the additional downward motion of rod 82 will be permitted. The hub 201 forms a blocking device or element and is provided with a slot 22| which extends parallel to the axis of the rod 82. The bracket 34 carries a pin 222 which forms a coacting blocking device and is stationary, The pin 222 and slot 22| are so positioned that they are aligned when the rod 82 and hub 201 are rotated to second speed position. When the pin and'slot are aligned the additional downward movement of rod 82 is permitted by the entrance of thefp'in in the slot 221. When -'the pin and slot are not aligned, the downward movement of rodn82 is resisted by engagement of the hub 2511 with pin 222.

Blocking means are provided to insure that it will be impossible for a driver toalign the pin 222 with slot 22| whenthe rod82 vis raised and approaching its reverse position and while they are aligned to force the rod'8'2 down to the automatic position. --T-he circumferential collar 85 of hub 201 constitutes a blocking device or elelment and is provided with a slot 228. A pin 224 which is secured to bracket 84 serves as a coacting blocking device. The pin 224 and slot 2128 are so positioned that they are alignedlwhen the rod' 82 and hand lever 228 are in their neutral position. The pin 224 is located above the collar 86 in the second and high speed positions and located below the collar 86 in the reverse and low speed positions of rod 82. Thus when the driver lifts rod 82 to move it axially to the upper limit on left side of the pattern in Fig. 1l the collar 88 passes over the pin 224 and when the rod 82 is then rotated to either reverse or low'speed positions the collar 85 rotates and disaligns the slot 223 and pin 224. Then downward movement of rod 82 is obstructed by pin 224 engaging collar 86.

The downward movement of rod 82 into automatic position causes rod 82 to engage plunger 286 and close switch 91. In addition, a shoulder 225 on rod 82 engages collar 85 on hub 201 to force the hub to accompany the rod in its down- Ward travel. This movement of collar 85 away from hub 203 which is supported by the stationary bracket 84 causes the slot 218 and teeth 211 to separate thereby declutching arm 89 from rod 82. The arm 88 is then freely rotatable and not operatively connected to rod 82. When arm 89 is moved by the automatic actuation of transmission linkage the motion will not be transmitted to the rod 82. The automatic mechanism does not actuate the selector lever 51 and linkage connected to lever 81 so that a similar problem regarding movement of lever 81 is not present. It should be noted that the additional downward movement of rod 82 required to close switch 91 rotates arm Si and moves rod 88 and selector lever 51. This is possible because as shown in Fig. 3, the cam 55 is not connected to finger 6I and is capable of unrestricted downward motion. The parts may be returned to their positions effecting manual control by reversing the movements described above.

Features of novelty shown but not claimed herein are more particularly described and claimed in the copending applications, Serial No. 661,298 led by Neracher et al.; Serial Numbers 687,247, 698,451 and 755,661 filed by Otto W. Schotz, now Patent No. 2,487,482, issued November S, 1949 and Serial No. 694,084 led by C. A. Neracher, now Patent No. 2,528,772, issued November 7, 1950.

I claim:

1. In a shift control mechanism for a vehicle transmission, an inclined rotary and axially movable shift control rod, said rod being normally operable in a predetermined axial path between rst and second limits and operable in a predetermined rotary path at one of said limits to a iirst station and operable in a predetermined rotary path at the other of said limits tc a second station, a transmission control element operable iii) Aby axial movement of said rod beyond said second limit, a first-blocking device carriedv by the lower portion of said rod and a coacting blocking'device located -adjacentsaid rod, one of said blocking devices being provided with a slot shaped to vaccommodate passage of the other of said blocking devices therethrough when said rod is moved axially from the second station to thereby accommodate movement of said rod beyond said secon'd limit from said second stati-on to operate said transmission control element and means carried by the lower portion of said rod and coacting `means adjacent said vrod forblocking axial moveyment of said rod from said rst limit toward said second limit until said rod is rotated for movement in said axial path. f

, .2. In'a control mechanism for a motor vehicle having an engine and a transmission operable to provide a plurality of speed ratio drives from the engine to the vehicle driving wheels; an inclined rotary shift control rod operable for axial movement between first and second limits determining rst and second positions and being rotatable from said first position to a first station and being rotatable from said second position to a second station, means providing an operative connection of said shift control rod with said transmission for establishing certain of said speed ratio drives when said rod is operated to said rst and second stations, automatic means including an electric circuit operable to eilect a change in speed ratio drive in said transmission, said automatic means including a normally open switch positioned to be closed by axial -movement of said rod beyond said second limit to thereby render said automatic means operative, first blocking means located adjacent the lower portion of said rod and including a stationary element and an element movable with said shift control rod, one of said elements being provided with a slot shaped to accommodate passage of the other of said elements therethrough when said rod is moved axially to close said switch while in the predetermined rotary position corresponding to said second station, and second blocking means including a stationary element and an element movable with said shift control rod, one of said last-mentioned elements being provided with a slot shaped to accommodate passage of the other of said last-mentioned elements during movement of said rod between said second and i'lrst positions, said second blocking means being operable to block axial movement of said rod directly from said first station to said second station.

3. In a control mechanism for a motor vehicle having an engine and a transmission operable to provide a plurality of speed ratio drives from the engine to the vehicle driving wheels, an inclined rotary shift control rod operable for axial movement between rst and second limits determining frst and second positions and being rotatable from said first position to a first station and being rotatable from said second position to a second station, apparatus providing an operative connection of said shift control rod with said transmission for establishing certain of said speed ratio drives when said rod is operated to said first and second stations, automatic means including an electric circuit operable to effect a change in said speed ratio drive in said transmission, said automatic means including a normally open switch positioned to be closed by axial movement of said rod beyond said Second limit to thereby render said automatic means operative, said apparatus including normally engaged clutch com- 11 ponents adapted to be disengaged by axial movement of said rod beyond said second limit to operatively disconnect said rod from operative connection to said transmission, rst blocking means including a stationary element-and an element on said shift control rod, one of said elements being provided with a slot shaped to accommodate passage of the other of said elements therethrough when said rod is moved axially to close said switch and disengage said clutch components while in the predetermined rotary position corresponding to said second station, and second blocking .means including` a stationary element and an element :movable with said Shift control rod, one of said last-mentioned elements being provided with a slot shaped to accommodate passage of the other of. said last-mentioned elements during movement of said rod between said second and rst positions, said second blocking REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,287,272 Price June 23, 1942 2,292,633 Griswold Aug. 11, 1942 2,329,724 Maurer Sept. 21, 1943 2,365,732 Snow Dec. 26, 1944 2,374,303 Osborne Apr. 24, 1945 2,426,234 Neracher Aug. 26, 1947 2,443,228` Cornelius June 15, 1948 

